The Tragedy of Macbeth, by William Shakespeare, continuously uses the Blood and Staining motif. The use of this motif emphasizes Macbeths deplorable need to be safely thus, as a tyrant would when murdering those who have cared for him. It also emphasizes character, corruption and death.
Macbeths need to be safely thus as a king is a psychological reaction from having murdering a king himself and knowing that rulers aren’t completely untouchable. It also can be a reaction from having known he had completed a wretched task when killing Duncan, so he was automatically concerned for keeping that secret hidden from the world. As a direct result of that, a pattern sets in, with the constant spilling of blood.
Due to the high intensity of the moments leading up to Duncan’s death, a blade appears in
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The irony of the situation has relation to Act Two. In the last Act, she states her hands were still stained by Duncan’s blood. Which ironically contradicts her original stolid attitude and thought of water being able to wash away the deed.
Blood, symbolizing death and staining, symbolizing guilt, work together all throughout the play and soon takes one shocking leap, when Lady Macbeth hangs herself. Her death was driven by guilt, as the blood in every other scenario resulted in staining. Each time blood is mentioned, it represents Lady Macbeth and Macbeths further mental change of state. In which their sense of life is substitute by insanity.
In summary, the use of the blood and staining motif purposefully emphasized the high intensity that was present in the play. It contradicted any moral sense that Macbeth had and painted a clear image Macbeth’s true nature. The use of this motif emphasizes Macbeths deplorable need to be safely thus, as a tyrant would when murdering those who have cared for him. It also emphasizes character, corruption and